Kerf cutter for mining apparatus



' April 22, 1930. E. c. MORGAN KERF CUTTER FOR MINING APPARATUS Original Filed Dec. 23 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3 RN NW N m eniw; Edmund C(Wjggfln 05001550.

[age/w 0g 7 m w g April 22, 1930. E. c. MORGAN KEHF CUTTER FOR MINING APPM'U TUS Original Filed Dec. 23, 1919' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pa tented Apr. 22, 1930' EDMUND c. MORGAN, n cEAsEn, LATE or ivnw YORK, N. Y., BY OLIVIA- EUGENIE PATENT oFFicEi MORGAN, nxncn'rnrx, 0F new YORK, 1v. Y.

' Kenn CUTTER non MINING APPARATUS Original application filed December 23, 1919, Serial No. 346,903.. Divided and this appncation filed r October 17, 1927; Serial No. 226,690. I

This application is: a di'visionof. the copendingapplication of the same inventor filed December'23, 1919, Serial No. 846,903, for mining and loading apparatus and method of mining.

The present invention, while relating to the same general subject-matter as that of the above identified co-pending application, is more particularly concerned with the'construction and operation of the kerf-cutter and its co-operative relationship with the mining apparatus referred to in said co-pending case.- The principal object of the present inven tion is to provide means for cutting a kerf in the'side'wal'ls of'a mlne vein n advance kerf-cutter, and with the construction and operation of the'kerf cutter so arranged that the same'may bemoved into an inactive position after the production of the kerf so as to leavean unobstructed line of movement for the-dislodging apparatus, operation of which i Another object of the, invention to.

follows the kert-cutter so as'to di'slodgethe material cut by the kerf-cutter."

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of akerf-cutter intermediate the floor and the roof of a mine chamber; adjust: able in elevation and inclination so as to.

adapt the same to the cutting out of partings or dirty bandsiin'coal veins in various locations.

vide a kerf-cutter which maybe elevated and lowered relatively of the apparatus with which it is associated and which may be also adjusted on an incline relatively of themine wall in which the kerf is to be made.

Astill furtherobject .is to'provide a kerfcutter with means for adjusting the same on an incline, up or down, in the direction in which the dislod'ging apparatus is moved.

' Still another important feature of the in-:

vention resides in the 'construction of the kerf-cutter which permitsthe' same to be deapparatus.

tachably' mounted on a" material dislodging Another I vision of a kerfrcutter which is particularly adapted to theciutting of arcuatekerfs in the of Fig. I 1,;

object of the invention is the proa over the track system 6 of the of the material by a material-dislodgingap p ara tus associated with the kerf-cutter andmounted. also for arcuate movement. j l

, Other objects of the invention will appear combined with mining and kerf-cutti-ng mecl1-, anlsm, v

Fig.2 is an elevational View of the combined. mlning and loading machine with a portion of the kerf-cutting mechanismineluded to show itsrelation to the other-parts;

. Fig. 3 is a plan View, partly in section, of a kert-cutting mechanism the position' of which, when not in use, being shown by the dotted lines at the upper right hand portion i Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational View taken on the line of Fig. 3- looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5jis a sectional detail view taken onthe line 5 5 of Fig. 8l0oking in the direc tion of thlearrows.

In practice, the kerf-cutter is best adapted for use'incombination with mining machinery of that class illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; The particular apparatus shown in these fig ures forms a part of the above-identified ,copending application, and for a complete description of the construction and operation of such an a1iparatus,attention is invited to said co-pending application. The following brief outline will be sufficient, however, to explain the association and operation of the kerfcutter with such an apparatus, and for-this purpose, before describing the herf-cutter specifically, its adaptation and use-in combination with mining'machinery shown in Figs.

l and 2, Willbe described.

The method carried out with tlie use of the illustrated apparatus contemplates first cuttingthe lgerf in the side walls of a mine vein, such as A, dislodging the material after the kerf has been cut, and conveying the same in a more or less continuous operationinto a mine car;5,-wh1ch is adapted to be hauled. mineto and from the mining apparatus.

' Y The'kerf-cutter is shown, as at 7 in Fig.

v along ,thewall ofthe mine vein in dislodging the material. equipped'with traction means, such, for instance, as track-laying mechanism .11, so that the entire apparatus including the kerfcutter 7, may bepro'gressively advanced to- "ward the wall of the mine vein A. as the mining operation proceeds. Of course, the traction. means s also adapted to transport the machinery todiiferent locations within the mine when occasion demands.

7 Supported by the main frame 10 to the rear thereof is a hopper 12 which is equipped with a rearwardly extending chute 13. TEX- tending into the hopper 12 and along the chutel8'is a continuous conveyer belt 14.

The-extended chute 13, together with the conveyer belt 14, is adapted to be introduced through one end of the mine car 5 so as to deliver material thereto from the hopper 12. The material dislodged from the mine vein A is delivered to the hopper 12 by thebelt conveyer' 15 associated with the dislodging mechanism.. The belt 15 empties the material into a hopper 16 from which it is collected by a conveyer belt 17 and dumped into the hopper 12. The relative co-operative relationship of the conveyer belt 15and the dislodging mechanism is so arranged as to automatically collect the material as it is dislodged and carry it rearward to the waiting mine car 5 without undue loss of time.

Owing to the fact that the car 5, when filled, will necessarily have to be hauled away and during the interim between the time that a new car is brought up, the conveyer belt 14 may be discontinued in operation, the hopper 12in this connection being of suficient size to accommodate what material is delivered thereto from the belt 17 The purpose of this arrangement is to make it unnecessary to discontinue the operation of the dislodging mechanism and the conveying apparatus while the mine cars are changed.

i To securely anchor the main frame 10,'as

well as the apparatus associated therewith, which remain stationary during the mining operation, except :for that time which requires thesame to be advanced forwardly, a

suitable roof jack 18is employed.

The means for operating the material-dis lodging apparatuscomprises afluid pressure mechanism, the distributing pipes of which The main frame 10 is are shown at 19 in Figs. 1 and 2. This mechathe co-pending application heretofore identified.

In Fig. 1 the initial position ofthe dislodging mechanism and the gathering conveyer 15 is shown in dotted lines, the full lines representing the position of the dislodging and gathering apparatus whilein operation along the minewall. When the coal to be cut is comparatively hard making it desirable to cut a kerf intermediate the floor and the roof to faciltate dislodging of the coal, the. dislodging and gathering apparatus may be moved rearwardly of its dotted line position in Fig. 1 and the kerf-cutter moved to its initial position approximately where the frame 9 is shown in dotted lines. While the cutter is being rotated or driven by the motor 42, the motor 41 may be also operated to effect swinging feeding movement of thecutting'toolbodily in an anti-clockwise direction so as to cut a kerf intermediate the sets of dislodging tools and distant therefrom and in advance of the gathering mechanism. It should be particularly noted that feeding of themechanism is effected by the electric motor 41 independently of the driving of the cutting mechanism by means of the electric motor 42. The rotation of the cutter may therefore beat any desired speed and the feed may be varied in accordance with the hardness of the coal. It should also be noted that the feeding movement of the cutting mechanism is independentof the swinging or feeding of the dislodging mechanism because the swinging of the dislodging mechanism and the gathering device is efiected by the motor 80 on the base frame 10 connected to the rope winding mechanism 21.

' Some coal veins have partings or dirty bands and these occur at various elevations, thicknesses and inclinations or clips. The kerf-cutter shown is well adapted to cutting out the foreign material from'such partings inadvance of thegathering device 15, such foreign material being deposited on the floor of the mine chamber adjacent the base of the minewall where it may be shoveled onto the conveyer 15; or if the machine is stripped of the dislodging mechanism as contemplated in the inventors co-pending application, Serial No. 4,768, filed January 26, 1925, for an improvement in loading machines, as a division of Serial No. 346,903, filed December 23, 1919,

for an improvement in mining andloading apparatus, the foreign material .cut out from the partings or dirty bands may be scooped This. operation is all clearly described in detail in up by the inclined scoop 81 at one-side of and motor 32 shown in Fig. 2. The inclinationof the kerf-cutter'may be adjusted on the transverse axis of'the trunnions 25, 26 by turning the wheel 62. The cutter may'also be adjusted, in inclination on the axis of'the trunnions 37, 38 by turning the wheel 60.

The longitudinal axis on the "trunnions 37,

38 is substantially at right angles to the transverse axis on the trunnions 25,26. The

supports "23, 24 have suspended therefrom what is'in reality a self-contained mining ma chine which irrespective of the position to which it has been adjusted will always out a'plane kerf since'the axis of feeding move?- at 1ts outer end the gear box 47 for enclosing 7 ment at the center of the disc 39 is always at right angles to the plane ofthe kerf-cutter and to the plane of thekerf which is cut in the mine wall. 1

' The above will be sulficientto describe the copperativerelationship of the kerfscutter 7 to the mining machine illustrated, at least for the purposeof clearly explaining the use or the kerf-cutter, and the'remainder of the description will now be devoted to the construction of the kerf-cutter, per se.

Projecting forwardly above the main frame 10 of the mining apparatus and 1n spaced parallel relation are a pair of arms 23 and 24 which are trunnioned at 25 and 26 to'the diametrically opposite sides of the circular frame 3 27 of the kerf-cutter. These arms are pivotally mounted, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, to the upperends of the rack bars 28' and 29, which, in turn, extend vertically along the guideways 30 and 31 at the sides of the main frame 10 of the mining apparatus.

In Fig. 2 is diagrammatically illustrated mechanism for lifting and lowering these yer-- tical rack bars 28 and 29 so as to adjust the elevation of the spaced arms'23 and 24 in adjusting the elevation 'of the kerf-cutter. This mechanism for lifting and lowering the vertical rack bars 28 and 29 preferably comprises amotor 32 which is connected by a shaft 33 to gearing suitable for the purpose, meshing with the rack teeth of said rack bars. A transverse shaft 34, actuated by the motor 32, extends across the machine frame a suliicientdistanceabove the conveyer'belt 17 so as not to interfere with the passage of material traveling thereon from the hopper 16130 the hopper 12. "On the side of the ma chine frame opposite the longitudinal shaft 33 and also extending longitudinally is a shaft 35 which transmits a drive from the posite sides of the kerf-cutter frame at right angles to the trunnions 25 and 26. Rotatably mounted within the inner ring 36 is a clrcular frame 39, the ring 36 having an annular bearing 39" therefor. Depending from the disc frame 39 is an annular frame 40 for carrying two electric motors41 and 42.

The motor 41 is connected by the worm gear I 43 to thepinion 44 which meshes with the annular gear 45 atthe lower portion of the ring 36.

Y Extending forwardly from the depending frame 40is a tubular frame 46 which carries the sprocket wheel 48 in a closed chamber 49 which may be filled with lubricating material. Thesprocket wheel48 is mounted on the shaft 50 which extends along'the tubular frame 46 to the gear 51, which'meshes with a pinion 52 on the shaft of the motor 42.

Mounted on the gear box 47 is a fiat disc 53 having a ball race at its periphery for connection by the circular series of balls 54 to the cutter ring 55 carrying the cutters 56. Secured to the outer edge of'the disc 53 are spaced-apartannular plates 57 and 58 in the planes of the upper and lower surfaces of the disc 53'. These annular plates are of suf licient width to completely cover the cutterring 55 andthe sprocket gear notches 59 therein, to prevent anydustmr dirt from reaching the ball-bearings. The lubricating material-within the chamber 49 will,' how ever, be thrown by centrifugal force from the'sprocket gear 48 to the ball-bearing enclosure for lubricating these parts.

From the above description, it will be read- I ily seen that the cutting .drive for thefcutters 56 of the lrerf-cuttermay be effected direct fromthe motor of the shaft 50.

During'the cuttingoperation of the lrerfcutter, the same is progressively moved forward by the motor 41 and the driving connection between the same and the gear 45 meshing withthe pinion 44. This motor 41' may also be used as the motive power for swinging the kerf-cutter back to its initial position after the cutting operation thereof has ceased.

Adjusted elevation of the kerf-cutter may be effected, as previously explained, through the medium of the rack bars28 and 29, raising and lowering the arms 23 and 24. How- 42 through the mediunr the motor 32 shown in Fig. 2, such kerf-cutframes 40 and 46. It is therefore obvious that irrespective of the adjustment of the ter may also be adjusted in inclination either on the axis of the trunnions 25 and '26, to incline the kerf-cutter up or down toward the mine wall longitudinally in advance of the minin and loading machine, or on the axis of the trunnions 37, 38 to incline the kerfcutter up or down in the direction in which the dislodgin mechanism is moved. By turning the wheel 60 mounted on the bracket 61, the whole kerf-cutting machine maybe tilted on theaxis of the trunnions 25 and 26. Bytnrning the wheel 62, the ring 36, to-

gather .with the kerf-cutting mechanism mounted thereon, maybe tilted on the axis of the'trunnions 37, 38. It should benoted that the wheel 62 is free to turn inthe bracket 63'which is connected to the ring 36. The wheel 62 is provided with a screw-threaded rod 6-4: which is screw-threaded through the bracket 6 5 on the ring 27 a short distance from the trunnion 38. The looseness of the turning connection at 66 may be relied upon :0 permit relative tilting movements between the ring 36 and the ring 27.

The wheel 60 is mounted looselyfor turning movements in the bracket 61 which is attached to the arm 24. V A screw-threaded rod 70 extends upwardly from the wheel 60 and is screw-threaded through the bracket 71 which is attached to the outer ring 27. The looseness of the connection between the rod 70 and the bracket 61 may be relied upon to permit of the desired tilting of the entire 'kerf-cutter on the axis of the trunnions 25 and 26. a r

It should be particularly noted that the plane .of the kerf-cutter is at all times substantially at right angles to the upright axis of the arcuate swinging movement of the kerf-cutter, whether to one side or to the other, or whether up or down, the kerfs cut will always'be in a plane and such kerfs will be of substantially the samethickness throughout, there being no tendency to cut a conical kerf on account of the adjustment of the inclination of the kerf-cutter.

. axis of the ring-like mounting 22 which swings thesupplemental frame 9 so that the inner ends of the kerfs will heapproximately in verticalalinement with the paths of travel of the materialdislodging tools on the end of the supplemental frame 9. The axis on which the kerf-cutter is swung will always be shifted to one side or the other or forwardly or backwardly, in accordance with the adjustment on the two sets of trunnions, because the kerf-cutter is a self-contained mining machine wherein the plane of the kerf cutalways remains at right angles to the feeding axis extending through the disc 39 at the center thereof and at right angles thereto.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims heretoappended and it is desired therefore not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus fully disclosed an embodiment of the invention, what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a mining machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of a ring trunnioned on said frame on a horizontal transverse axis, an additional ring trunnioned on said firstnamed ring on v a horizontal longitudinal axis, a circular plate mounted in a circumferentialbearing in said additional ring, a motor mounted on said circumferential plate, an annular-gear on said additional ring, mechanism between said motor and said annular gear for rotating said circular plate relatively to said additional ring on an axis at the center of the plate and at right angles thereto, a kerfcutter, an extension from said circular plate to carrysaid kerf-cutter for bodily movement with said plate, an additional motor connected to saidplate, mechanism between said additional motor and said kerf-cutter to'drive thelatter, means for ad justing the position of said, additional ring and the parts carried thereby, relative to said supporting frame to vary the inclination of the kerf-cutter up or down longitudinally,

' and means for adjusting the relative positions of the said toolrings on the longitudinal trunnion to vary the inclination of the kerfcutter up or down transversely.

2. In a mining machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of supplemental supporting mechanism mounted on said supporting frame for adjustment in elevation, a ring frame pivoted to said supplemental supporting mechanism on a horizontal transverse axis, a second ring frame pivoted to said first-named ring frame on a longitudinal axis extending transversely of said first-named axis, kerf-cutting mechanism mounted on said second ring frame for rotary feeding movement relatively thereto, means for adjusting the elevation of said supplemental supporting mechanism to vary the elevation of said kerf-cutting mechanism, means for adjusting said first-named ring frame on said first-named transverse axis, additional means for adjusting the relative positions of the two ring frames on said longitudinal axis, and means .for operating said kerf-cutting mechanism including the feed thereof by rotating the same relatively .to said second ring frame.

3. In a mining machine, the. combination with a supporting frame, of a kerf-cutter, a support for sald kerf-cutter comprising a circular plate, a circnlar'frame having an annular bearing for said circular plate, an electric motor mounted on said support to move bodily therewith, connections between said motor and said kerf-cutter to drive the same, an annular gear on said circular-frame,

with a supporting frame, of a ring-pivoted thereto on a transverse axis, a second ring concentric to said first-named ring and pivotcutter for driving the latter, means between said motor and said second-named ring for swinging the kerf-cutter to efi'ect feeding 'movement thereof, means for adjusting the outer ring on the said transverse axis relative to said first-namedsupporting frame, and means for adjusting the inner ring relative to the outer ring on the longitudinal axis, theadjustment on the transverse axis varying the inclination of the kerf-cutter longitudinally and the adjustment on the said longitudinal axis varying the inclination of the kerf-cutter laterally.

5. In a mining machine, the combination with a tool support comprising concentric rings each tiltable on an axis transverse relative to theother, of a cutting tool, means for swinging said cutting tool relatively to said support on an axis at the center of and at right angles to the plane of one of said rings, and a motor for driving said cutting tool.

6. In a mining machine, the combination with a main frame, of a kerfcutter and universally adjustable supporting mechanism for said kerf-cutter comprising concentric rings between said main frame and said kerfcutter. I a b I .7. In a mining machine, the combination with a main supporting frame, ofa kerfcutter, supplemental supporting mechanism comprising concentric rings with the inner frame pivoted to the outer frame and the J latter pivoted to said supporting frame, the pivotal axes being at right angles to each other, and means for operating the kerfcutter in a plane at right angles to its feeding axis.

8. Ina mining machine, the combinationwith a main frame comprising horizontal spaced-apart bearing arms both at substantiallythe sain' e elevatioinjof a supplemental frametrunnioned-between said armsfor ad-.

'justmjent on' a horizontal transverse axis and for suspension inelevated position, kerf 1 swinging movement of the rear portion-thereof between said trunnions to secure a feedingmovement always approximately at right angles to a plane extending through the kerf cut by said kerf-cutting mechanism.

9. .In a mining machine, the combination with a main frame, of aisupplemental frame mounted thereon,'power-operated means for adjusting the elevation of said supplemental d th t on a l it di l axis a k ff frame, self-contained kerf-cutting mecha l cutter, a frame for supporting said 'kerfcutter and mounted in an annular bearing in' said second-named ring, a motor on sai'd'last'- named frame to move bodily therewith, con- 7 nections between said motor and said kerfnism for cutting a plane kerf, a universally tal frame" and said kerf-cutting mechanism, and means for operating-said kerf-cutting mechanism including movement. thereof on an axis permanently at rightangles to a plane extending through the plane kerf cut by said kerf-cutting mechanism. c

10. In a mining machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of a plane chain kerfcutter, of an'auxiliary frame having a circular bearing within the boundary thereof, a cutter carrying frame for said kerfcutter, a circular extension on said cutter carrying frame fitting into said circular bearing within the boundary of said auxiliary frame, and means foroperating said kerf-cutter including the feed thereof by rotating said circular extension in said circular bearing.

11. In a mining machine, the combination with a plane kerf-cutter. of a frame for supswinging feeding porting the'same and to move bodily there- I with during feeding travel, mechanism supported solely on said frame for driving said kerf-cutter, a second frame, an annular bearing between said first-named frame and said second frame, a motor on said first-named frame, transmission gearing between said motor and said second-named frame to elfect' swinging feed ng movement of said cutter on an axis at right angles to the plane of said kerf-cutter. v I I 12. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of a flat circular extension atone end of said frame,a kerf-cutter mounted on the other end of said frame to move Q lax-bearing and loeated at right angles to the plane kerf cut by said cutter; v

In testimony whereof I have signed my 

